SAN JUAN, Ilocos Sur - A field commander of the Philippine Army announced on Wednesday his strong support to the pronouncement of President Gloria Arroyo for an all-out war against insurgents throughout the country.

Lt. Colonel Harold N. Cabreros, commander of the army’s 50th Infantry Battalion based in barangay Guimod Sur, San Juan, Ilocos Sur, said he and his battalion is ready for a massive assault on the Communist New People’s Army.

“It is now high time that our government really focus its effort in the elimination of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), Cabreros said.

Cabreros said the existence of these insurgents are the biggest deterrents to the economic development of our country, particularly in the far-flung areas.

In support to this all-out war, the officers and men of the battalion are now conducting not only massive operations in the mountainous areas in Ilocos provinces but also undertaking massive civil-military operations that include series of dialoguesw ith elders and local officials.

“This is aimed at enlightening our people in the grassroot about the ill-effects of insurgency and communism, which is one of the causes of extreme poverty in the countryside,” Cabreros said.

In this civil-military operations, the army is bringing the services of different government agencies in the areas where the people live very far from the civilization, he added.

During the celebration of Independence Day last June 12, the medical and dental mission served at least 556 residents from Quirino, Ilocos Sur, he said.

President Arroyo earmarked P1 billion in the all-out campaign against insurgency.

From this P1 billion, at least P400M will go to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), P300 M to the Philippine National Police (PNPA) and P300M for the implementation of different economic development projects in the insurgency-affected areas.

Relative to this, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the campaign against the CPP-NPA is not a campaign of force and violence but a combination of security and civil operations directed at armed adversaries, the poor communities, and governance initiatives of the local government units. (PNA/Freddie G. Lazaro)